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kenzie-fabs · 5 years

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Chicks versus...dicks?

Kenzie checked her bags one last time to make sure she had everything. She was really excited to have been invited to stay with Grey, and she wanted things to go well. Deciding she was set to go, she loaded herself up with her bags and took the elevator downstairs, walking towards the doors of the sorority when she heard a familiar voice call her name. She cursed under her breath and turned around as the girl Chelsea approached her. “Where are you going?” “Competition,” Kenzie replied easily. “And I’m already running behind, so if you don’t mind-“ “I definitely mind. There’s a party and a showcase this weekend, which you’re scheduled to perform in by the way.” Kenzie snapped her fingers. “Man I didn’t think of that, let me just go ahead and call my class of 8-year-olds to tell them that they can’t go to their first competition all season because I’ve got a sorority thing.” Chelsea shrugged. “Fine; it’ll be Michaela you’ll have to answer to if you don’t show up.” Kenzie rolled her eyes, though just the mention of having to deal with the top bitch of the sorority had her worried. “Michaela has much more important people to bitch at, I’m sure.” “She does, she’s not even here,” came a new voice. “So you’d be dealing with me if you didn’t show up. Stretched, warmed-up, and fifteen minutes early. And tech will need your music by like yesterday.” Kenzie scrunched up her eyebrows, insulted. “They have my music already, Sabrina.” Sabrina smiled. “Then it’s settled. If they have the music for your performances then it’s already on the mix and can’t be removed.” Kenzie had a retort, but aimed it at Chelsea instead of Sabrina who was much higher up. “Oh no, where in a sorority full of performers are we going to find someone who knows a song from Wicked? Just give the slot to someone else.” Sabrina now seemed to notice the luggage. “You were really planning on leaving?” Kenzie held back a groan. “I forgot about the showcase because I’ve been choreographing nonstop to have my kids ready to compete tonight, and it’s not my fault I forgot because the showcase wasn’t on the event calendar!” Sabrina shook her head. “You should’ve written it in when you found out you were in the lineup. Plus, you’ve been reminded about it now but you’re still planning to leave? It’s not like you to ditch a commitment.” Kenzie crossed her arms. “Exactly. This competition was on my calendar, the showcase wasn’t. The showcase was sprung on me only like a month ago: the competition schedule has been set for the whole season. So yeah someone decided to put me in the showcase and I practiced and probably implied I’d be there because I didn’t realize what day it was gonna be, but I’m thinking I’m gonna have to stick to the commitment I made to a bunch of children that was on my calendar and therefore was all I did like all week.” “Mhm,” Sabrina mused unconvinced. She gave Mackenzie a once-over. She was just wearing shorts and a tank which fit her story, but her hair was down and styled, and she had on wedges that showed off a fresh pedicure. “What’s his name?” Kenzie sighed. “Grey.”

Chelsea: Sexy

Kenzie: You have no idea.

Sabrina: Why the bags, where are you going?

Chelsea: And isn’t your car in the garage?

Kenzie: A car service is going to pick me up and take me to the beach house.

Chelsea: Why a car service? You love your car.

Kenzie: To impress me maybe, I don’t know. But I requested a purple convertible, so we’ll see what happens.

Sabrina: You didn’t! Good job I’m gathering?

Kenzie: Model and actor.

Chelsea: What’s he look like? Or is it she?

Kenzie: *blushing* I don’t have time for this.

Chelsea: Come on Kenzie- you never have a relationship to talk about, let me enjoy this!

Kenzie: Long shiny black hair with brown eyes and a bangin’ body.

Sabrina: Sucks to miss all that.

Kenzie: Come on Sabi, be a friend, would you? There’s gotta be a way for you to let me walk out that door. I was in the last show case, I don’t know why I was picked for this in the first place. Isn’t it better if the benefactors and sponsors and whatever see different performers than last time so they know their money is going to more people?

Sabrina: It’s too late to replace you.

Kenzie: You’re in a sorority of performers. And you need someone to perform as a ditzy spoiled popular girl.

Sabrina: And your dance?

Kenzie: Just get an improv dancer. Or hey, I’m thinking it’s possible to just change the track and burn it again.

Chelsea: Holy shit. You must be hella good in bed Mack.

Kenzie: Why?

Chelsea pointed out the glass doors. “Because that’s a fucking purple convertible.”

#self para #beach weekend #beach house #extras #chicks versus dicks

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thrashermaxey · 5 years

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Ramblings: Updates on Byfuglien, Jones, and Zuccarello; Kyrou and Fabbri; Muzzin Traded; Blue Line Production – January 29

Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice told reporters on Sunday that Dustin Byfuglien hasn’t resumed skating so to not expect him back this week. The Jets play their final road game of their broken-up trip on Tuesday night before returning home for three contests. We’ll know more this weekend.

Taylor Hall was not skating in the game-day skate with the Devils on Monday morning.

Don't forget to grab your copy of the 2019 Dobber Midseason Fantasy Hockey Guide!

Mats Zuccarello was not on the ice for the Rangers on Monday. They have him listed as day-to-day with a foot infection but isn’t expected to play Tuesday. He should be available later this week.

While I’m on the topic, the likely trade of Zuccarello is an interesting case of expectations. At present time, he has 24 points in 35 games but is playing on a very good top line and top PP unit for the Rangers, often cracking 20 minutes a night. Let’s say he gets traded to somewhere like Calgary or San Jose, where does he slot? Does he get 18 minutes a game? 17? 15? What about his power play ice time? It could be a case where, fantasy-wise, having him stay put might be the best thing for his fantasy owners. Be careful what you wish for.

Shayne Gostisbehere was a late scratch Monday night, taking warm-ups and then leaving. He has a lower-body injury but it's not expected to be severe. He could be back in a few days.

As mentioned before the break, the Sens are expecting Colin White back in the lineup this weekend.

On the topic of the trade deadline, it appears that the Flyers are prepared to trade just about anyone. There are a lot of very good pieces on this team so hopefully Fletcher doesn’t just blow it up.

The Lightning expect Tyler Johnson to suit up for the team on Wednesday, having missed the team’s game just before the All-Star break.

Seth Jones was not at Columbus practice on Monday but is expected to play Tuesday night. Just in case he’s not, Zach Werenski was on the top PP unit with Ryan Murray on the second unit.

We got a pretty significant trade during the games last night as defenceman Jake Muzzin was acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for prospects Carl Grundstrom and (unsigned) Sean Durzi, as well as Toronto’s first-round pick this season. It appears he’ll slot right alongside Morgan Rielly immediately.

You can read Dobber’s take on the trade here.

It was a beatdown in Pittsburgh as New Jersey came flying out of the break for a 6-3 win. The game wasn’t as close as even that score would indicate. Travis Zajac had a monster game with one goal and three assists. Blake Coleman chipped in a goal and an assist as well.

Zajac’s huge performance aside, Coleman is having a great season in leagues counting hits. He’s now up to 18 goals, 29 points, nearly three shots per game, and over 130 hits after posting seven in the victory over the Penguins. I wrote about him last offseason and why he was a gamble worth taking this year. All that was true then is still true now, just with a bigger sample to work with.

James van Riemsdyk continued his hot streak Monday night, scoring the insurance marker in Philadelphia’s 3-1 win over Winnipeg. That makes eight goals and 10 points in his last 10 games. Be careful though: he’s not shooting a lot just yet. He’s only had 20 shots on goal in those 10 games, shooting 40 percent in the meantime. This is a guy who’s averaged three shots on goal in multiple seasons, including just last year. It’s a tricky situation for fantasy owners.

Carter Hart made 31 saves in the win.

Let’s take a few minutes to review Jordan Kyrou.

Sunday night, Kyrou participated in the AHL All-Star skills competition, posting the third-fastest lap in the history of the fastest skater competition. I wasn’t watching, but I saw the tweets and that led me to this thought:

quick fantasy hockey tweet: Jordan Kyrou is the guy you should be fishing for in dynasty leagues as the trade deadline approaches.

— Michael Clifford (@SlimCliffy) January 28, 2019

As of right now, Kyrou is a point-per-game player in his rookie AHL season with 28 points as a 20-year old. What’s even more special about that is how bad the San Antonio Rampage are: he leads the team in points despite playing 15+ fewer games than much of the roster, and the team being the sixth-lowest scoring team in the league. He has high-end speed, which isn’t enough in itself, but he’s a high-speed playmaker as well, and that separates him from a lot of players in my mind. He’s needed every bit of that speed and playmaking to have as much success as he has on a team so devoid of top-end talent.

The question for me is where Kyrou fits once he sticks with the big club. They have Vladimir Tarasenko, Jaden Schwartz, and David Perron all locked up for at least two more seasons after this one. Perron is capable of playing the left side if they so choose. If they decide to leave Perron on the right, Kyrou might be stuck on the third line for the time being.

All the same, this is about the lowest you’ll be able to pay for Kyrou for the foreseeable future, I think. He’s in the AHL and has already had an unsuccessful stint in the NHL. Maybe the Kyrou owner in your deep keeper or dynasty league is frustrated, or maybe he/she is looking for help this year to push for a title. It’s time to go fishing.

While on the topic of St. Louis wingers, don’t give up on Robby Fabbri yet, either. It has been a brutal 2018-19 season for him with just five points in 23 games, often finding himself either in the bottom-6 or a healthy scratch. Let’s be honest, though, it’s been a bad year for almost anyone in a Blues uniform to this point. If you didn’t draft Ryan O’Reilly or David Perron, you’re probably disappointed with your Blues selections.

But let’s not forget that over his first 123 regular season games from 2015-17, Fabbri had the same primary points per 60 minutes at five-on-five (1.37) as Mark Stone, and higher than names like Zach Parise, Patric Hornqvist, Tomas Hertl, and Jordan Eberle. It’s his first season after missing a year and a half with knee injuries and he just turned 23 years old last week.

This is basically a lost season for Fabbri but it’s also an important one. He’s back on the ice and has avoided catastrophic injury. That’s a win. Like Kyrou, his value will probably never be cheaper again in deep keeper/dynasty leagues than it is right now. It’s worth at least checking in with the Fabbri owner.

In my Ramblings last week, I intimated that there would be a discussion on defencemen, and more specifically, production from defencemen. Let’s start that discussion.

Production from the back end is something I’ve written about for years here on Dobber. It’s mainly due to the changing nature of the game and the evolution of the position, even as recently as the last five years. Blue liners are required not only to defend their net and blue line, but start the attack, and do so by carrying the puck or passing to the correct outlet. The days of glass-and-out are long gone.

For reference on what I’ve written in the past, in these Ramblings from April I discussed shot shares, in this one we reviewed goal shares at five-on-five and on the power play, while a third one covered changes in peripheral stats. Those are just a few of the Ramblings that have pored over different types and different levels of fantasy production from the back end going back years.

I wanted to go over scoring from the back end again here today.

Let’s start with something simple: how many 40-point defencemen have there been every season since the 2013 lockout campaign? It’s an arbitrary cut-off to be sure but fantasy owners often use it as a barometer for who is and who is not useful for fantasy purposes. These are the tallies (all from Hockey Reference):

Season

# of 40-point d-men

2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

2016-17

2017-18

Season 2013-14 through 2016-17 didn’t see a whole lot of change, with the number of 40-point defencemen hovering around 25, give or take a couple. That exploded last season to 30 rear guards, but that shouldn’t be a huge surprise given that scoring in 2017-18 was the highest it had been in a decade. Given that scoring is up again this year, we’d assume more defencemen would crack 40 points, right? Well, as of Monday afternoon, we had 27 defencemen in the NHL with at least 40 games played this season and averaging 0.49 points per game (which is 40 points in 82 games).

So, are defencemen producing less from the blue line? Well, it’s not so simple.

Again, as of today, we have 27 defencemen on pace for 40-point seasons (games played depending), which is fewer than we’d expect. However, we do have three defencemen on pace for point-per-game seasons: Morgan Rielly, Mark Giordano, and Brent Burns. Only one defenceman was a point-per-game blue liner over any of those five seasons in the table (Erik Karlsson had 82 points in 2015-16). So far this season, we have eight defencemen having played at least 40 games while averaging 0.85 points per game (70-point seasons). From 2013-2018, we had just six instances of a defenceman cracking 70 points, and the only guy not named Erik Karlsson or Brent Burns to do so was Victor Hedman in 2016-17 (72).

In summary, at least to this point of the season, we’re seeing a decline in the number of players on pace for 40-point campaigns compared to 2017-18 (which was a five-year high) but we’re seeing a big uptick in players at the upper-end of the production spectrum. Just think about it: if current paces hold, we’ll have more defencemen crack 70 points this year (8) than in the previous five seasons combined (6) while having fewer 40-point defencemen (27) than last season (30) and as many as 2014-15. It’s quite the paradox.

That’s it for today on defencemen but this conversation is far from over. The reason for having higher highs from blue liners but fewer 40-point guys is confounding. I’m sure there’s a logical reason for this but I want to be a bit more thorough so I’ll continue on Thursday.

from All About Sports https://dobberhockey.com/hockey-rambling/ramblings-updates-on-byfuglien-jones-and-zuccarello-kyrou-and-fabbri-blue-line-production-january-29/

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allworldus · 5 years

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Grand Canal Mall, Bonifacio, Manila

Near the top of every traveler’s Bucket List is a trip to Venice, Italy’s majestic and unique city where water canals make up every one of the streets. In fact, Venice is a series of about 100 small islands on a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea, with boats on waterways the only method of transportation (aside from sidewalks and bridges, of course) between them. So, if you want to see Venice and take in its Renaissance and Gothic Palaces, the famed Central Square, and historic St. Mark’s Basilica – and much more – you only have to book a plane ticket then reserve a hotel and pay for your food and everything else. In all, that should “only” run you $5,000 or so for a week – for one person.

But there is another way to take in the splendor of Venice’s canals, snap a family photo on a bridge over Venice’s waterways, and even take a gondola ride with a boatman who dresses in traditional Italian garb and even sings: visit the Grand Canal Mall in the Philippines.

Mall? The Philippines? Have you finally lost it, Norm?

Well, yes, I have – about the exact time I agreed to start working for AllWorld, to be honest!

But that doesn’t mean what I said isn’t accurate – you can at least get a sample of Venice with a great likeness built into a mall in the Philippines.

And I have to admit that it’s super cheesy…but…pretty awesome!

It’s actually the signature attraction to the appropriately-named Venice Grand Canal Mall located in the McKinley Hill area of Taguig, an upscale neighborhood of call centers and international business spaces in Manila.

I’m definitely not a “mall person,” but I just moved to the neighborhood, so my apartment at Morgan Suites is only two blocks away. Inevitably, a lot of the shops, services, and restaurants I frequent are at this mall, so I’m walking through once or twice a day.

The outside of the mall is notable in its own right, as it’s designed in a traditional historical Italian style (I was going to say something like “Neo-Classical,” but that would be BS because we both know I have NO idea about ancient architectural styles!). The entrance ways outside look like an ornate old church or palace you might see in a postcard, but also have dazzling modern lighting and several big fountains. But once you walk inside the mall (through tight security which will check into every bag and give you a quick pat down), you see the real attraction.

The whole center of the mall is an outdoor plaza made to look EXACTLY like the canals of Venice, Italy! As I mentioned, I think this is cheesy as hell, BUT they did a really amazing job with it, and for the average middle-class Filipino who will NEVER get a chance to visit the real thing in Italy, it’s a fun and different attraction. It’s also one of the most hashtagged and “selfied” spots in Manila, for obvious reasons.

But this is no simple photo op, as the canal dominates the whole center of the mall running an entire city block or more, with pristine blue-green waters that meander in a slight crescent. Two or three bridges span the waterways, which are made to look like traditional bridges you’d see in Venice, as well as shaded outdoor plazas to walk or just hang out on either side. They have plenty of outdoor restaurants and cafes with umbrellas so you can sit there are take it all in, as watching the jubilant crowd is part of the fun. One of the best features is an “island” in this canal, which is a small bridge that takes you to a perfectly circular modern building suspended over the water, where you can sit and drink a beer at night. Since the mall is open from around 11 am to 10 or 11 pm, the whole thing is bustling at night, with plenty of light displays and music making it a festive atmosphere.

I almost forgot to mention the gondolas! Yes, there are a handful of full-sized gondolas that roam the canal, constructed as exact replicas of what you’d find in Italy. Even the drivers are dressed perfectly to the part, pushing their way through the water with long oars and sometimes singing as they go.

I’m usually extremely cynical when it comes to commercialization and gimmicks like this, but, I must say, it’s actually pretty damn impressive. Of course, staying right there and seeing the mall every day, the novelty fades. But the Grand Canal Mall does offer some great practical options for me.

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The Venice Grand Canal Mall in Manila. Cheesy? Gimmicky? In-authentic? Maybe, but it's also a pretty gorgeous setting and very fun!

A post shared by AllWorld.com (@allworldonline) on Jan 16, 2019 at 10:01am PST

So far, my favorites are:

Robinson Select grocery store The best option for buying food including fresh veggies – which are really hard to find – and other high quality and even western items. It certainly isn’t cheap, but just the presence of such a grocery store in walking distance is a godsend.

KarudaThe mall is big on fast food chains like Wendys, Jollibee, KFC, etc. and also plenty of low and medium-cost chains for Filipino food, but very few unique, tantalizing, and healthy restaurants. As far as I can see, the best bet is Karuda, which is an indoor-outdoor simple Japanese fusion restaurant. I get one of their bento box options, which is a ton of good food for about $6 and change – the best deal you’ll find! McKinley Hill Yoga Disclaimer: I’ve never actually been to a yoga class there, but I’ve made friends with one of the teachers and follow them every day online, and looks like a fantastic place for all skill levels and experience with yoga.

Big Boss Barber Shop A really cool gentlemen’s barber shop but with a more modern and open studio setting. It’s not cheap by Philippines standards (I’m like a broken record with that in Manila!) – about $7 just for a cut – but they do a wonderful job and take their time and really treat you like a superstar. FYI I asked if I get a discount for my bald spot but was DENIED!

Gold’s Gym Good gyms are hard to find here, and there tend to be only two kinds of gyms: the really simple, grimy, and pretty dirty local gyms (they’re cheap and full of amazing athletes but not very comfortable for westerners), and the higher-end chain gyms like Anytime Fitness and Gold’s here in Manila. Those tend to be a lot closer to the nice, airy, spacious, and clean gyms we’re used to back home – at least on face value. But they also can be really expensive – especially if you just drop in for a day or two. Either way, I thought Gold’s was my best option because it’s right at the Venice Grand Canal Mall and has a great layout. It’s on the third floor, so you’re looking out floor to ceiling windows on one whole wall at the canal and mall-goers walking around and having gun below.

DIY Moving into my little studio apartment two blocks away at Morgan Suites, I inevitably need A LOT of stuff to get settled in, including a fan, storage shelves, curtains, kitchen and bathroom stuff, and much more. There really aren’t Home Depots or that big U.S.-style hardware and home stores here in Manila that I’ve seen, so people rely on the little local hardware stores. DIY is like the equivalent to an ACE Hardware, and it’s right in the mall. Crazy expensive for a lot of things (like $40 for a shower rod!) because most of the stuff here is imported, but it’s better than nothing and super convenient.

Dental Hub I try to take good care of my choppers, and that means at least two visits to the dentist every year. I usually just found random dentists as I’ve traveled, which means some good ones (like in Angeles City) or some awful ones (like in Thailand). But, when I had a bad toothache and needed some real help, I was happy to see that there was a Dental Hub office right there in the mall – across from Gold’s Gym, actually! I found them to be super clean, modern with the latest tech, very professional and caring. So far, so good, and I’ll keep coming back for convenience and for that great service.

By the way, there are also several medical clinics located in the mall that look just as modern and nice, and, although I’ve been fortunate not to have to need one yet, it’s good to know it’s there!

Daiso This place is so cool – it’s a whole store dedicated to Japanese products for the home, from dishes and kitchenware to lighting, bedding, and tons of nick nacks and gadgets. Since they are Japanese (as opposed to Chinese), the stuff is good quality and works well, and priced surprisingly well. But it’s just fun to walk around and see their stuff that’s way different from items you’d find in the U.S.

Coffee lineup As a workaholic blogger and writer, I log A LOT of time sitting there with my laptop, hunting and pecking my way to a paycheck. I do work at home for a few hours every day but I definitely need two things:

A change of scenery with actual human beings around me, and COFFEE!

The fun part of the Venice Grand Canal Mall is that there are plenty of stores that are accessible from the street (outside the mall) or inside. In fact, on one whole side of the mall sit a lineup of coffee shops – Caffeine Row as I call it. There are literally five or six coffee places and cafes in a row, from Denny’s to UCC to Starbucks, Tim Hortons (my new favorite) and Coffee Bean. If I’m at risk for being over caffeinated and bopping my head to the music in my headphones to dramatically, I can just pick up and take my act to the next café!

There are also plenty of other events, concerts, and happenings at the mall – so visit Venice if you’re in the area!

The post Grand Canal Mall, Bonifacio, Manila appeared first on AllWorld.com.

source https://www.allworld.com/grand-canal-mall-bonifacio-manila/

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